All sorts of songs were made and sung about this gallant old farmer.
"Oh, know ye the farmer of Tippecanoe? The gallant old farmer of
Tippecanoe? With an arm that is strong and a heart that is true,
The man of the people is Tippecanoe."
That is the beginning of one song and there were dozens more like
it.
And while the old farmer of Tippecanoe was said to be everything
that was good and honest and lovable, Van Buren on the other hand
was represented as being a bloated aristocrat, who sat in chairs
that cost six hundred dollars, ate off silver plates with golden
forks and spoons, and drove about in an English coach with a haughty
smile on his face.
It was a time of terrible excitement, and each side gave the
other many hard knocks. But in the end Harrison was elected by two
hundred and thirty-four electoral votes to Van Buren's sixty. As
Vice-President John Tyler was chosen. "Tippecanoe and Tyler too"
had been one of the election cries.
Inauguration day was bleak and cold, rain threatened and a chill wind
blew. But in spite of unkind weather Harrison's friends arranged
a grand parade. And mounted on a white horse the new President rode
for two hours through the streets. Then for another hour he stood
in the chill wind reading his address to the people.
All the time he wore no overcoat. Because, it is said, rumours were
spread abroad that he was not strong, and he wanted to show that
he was.
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